Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

Freedom From Want
September 10, 2008
Freedom from want is another one of the four freedoms Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke about more than 60 years ago. "Freedom From Want" was the theme on the fourth day of the 37th Grand Lodge Convention.

New Dues Structure
September 10, 2008
More than 32 years ago, union delegates gathered in a room like this, changed the financial structure of the IAM. Today, that decision was again in front of this year's delegaes who voted o amend the current financial structure.

HRC Becomes Honorary IAM Member
September 8, 2008 - Nothing seems to bring the Machinists to their feet like Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. She spoke at the the 37th Grand Lodge Convention where she became an honorary lifetime member of the IAM.

Freedom From Fear
September 8, 2008 - In some of the most famous words ever spoken, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." "Freedom From Fear" was the theme on the second day of the 37th Grand Lodge Convention.

Opening Day for the 37th Convention
September 7, 2008 - Today the IAM opened its 37th Grand Lodge Convention. This week promises a nod to the past as we look for solutions to the problems of the future.

Legally Protecting Our Green Jobs
August 28, 2008 - US manufacturing has lost millions of jobs due to outsourcing. But can you keep that from happening? Some labor advocates are ready for a radical pro manufacturing political agenda, and they want it applied to America’s next economic craze, “Green” energy.

A Plan For Greatness
August 13, 2008 - For years the Machinists have told anyone who would listen that this country's in trouble. Unfortunately, many times these warnings fell on deaf ears.

Spirit Aerosystems: A Conversation With IP Tom Buffenbarger
July 2, 2008 -
IP Tom Buffenbarger discusses unique wage negotiations at Spirit Aerosystems.

Hawker Beechcraft: A Conversation With IP Tom Buffenbarger
July 2, 2008 -
IP Tom Buffenbarger discusses the latest developments at Hawker Beechcraft.

IAM College Graduating Class of '08
July 2, 2008 -
Last weekend 11 Machinists graduated from the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The GAO Says No!!!
June 26, 2008 -
A few months ago, the United States Air Force awarded a U.S. Military Contract to a foreign owned company. Machinists jumped on the issue and the government heard us loud and clear.

Around The Globe June 25, 2008 -
A historic event took place recently at the Winpisinger Center when 37 women from 25 different countries gathered to change the future.

An Agenda For Education
June 18, 2008 - According to recent polls, Americans want to see more training for middle class jobs but the government doesn't seem to be getting the message. The IAM is hoping to help change that.

To All Who Would Listen
June 4, 2008 - It's one thing to talk something and a whole other to take action. That's exactly why Machinists at this year's Legislative Conference took their issues to Capitol Hill, talking to all who would listen.

Mergers, Tankers and Fairness
June 2, 2008 - IAM Members from around the country gathered in Washington D.C. to let the politicians know they aren't going to be silent on the issues that matter most.

The Recession Question
May 28, 2008 - All around the country economists are trying to answer whether or not the United States is in a recession.

Off-Setting the Economy
May 8, 2008 - Owen Herrnstadt, Director of the IAM'S Trade and Globilization Department talks about the topic of offsets.

You Are Not Forgotten
April 29, 2008 - For twenty years the IAM has been observing Worker Memorial Day, honoring those men and women who gave the ultimate sacrafice to the job.

Equal Pay for Equal Work
April 29, 2008 - In a union, workers share the same contract and therefore, the same pay and benefits.

More Broken Merger Promises
April 29, 2008 - Last week the IAM's International President Tom Buffenbarger headed to Capitol Hill to tell Congress that the proposed merger between Northwest and Delta Airlines is going to do much more harm than good.

Delta and Northwest Merger
April 21, 2008 - Last week Northwest and Delta Airlines announced a merger. GVP, Robert Roach Jr. comments on the situation.

A New, New Deal
April 18, 2008 - Just blocks away from the Capitol, a group from the Roosevelt Institution gathered to talk about a new, new deal for the future.

The Sky Is The Limit
April 15, 2008 - For the past six years the IAM has shared a very unique relationship with the students at Aviation High School. Last week these students visited the Winpisinger Center.

Tankers Today, Fighters Tomorrow?
April 4, 2008 - Americans around the country are angry as they watch their jobs and livelihoods go overseas. Most recently, it was the award of a US Military contract to a foreign country. GVP Rich Michalski traveled to Pennsylvania to speak about this issue.

A 'Not So Mock' Negotiations
April 3, 2008 - Many in the labor movement say there's nothing more difficult than negotiating contracts. That's why the Winpisinger Center is arming Machinists with the tools needed to succeed at the bargaining table.

Media Library
IAMpodcast

To view these videos you will need to download the free Windows Media Player 9

Boeing Talks Stall Over Outsourcing

The latest round of contract talks between the IAM and Boeing broke down over Boeing’s insistence on contract language that could lead to the elimination of more than 2,000 IAM members’ jobs.

Despite record profits and hundreds of aircraft on back order, Boeing continues to claim its future “competitiveness” depends on having the “flexibility” to increase the amount of work performed by outside contractors, vendors and suppliers.

It is increasingly apparent that Boeing’s long-term strategy is to replace hundreds if not thousands of IAM members with outside suppliers. In addition to outsourcing and the use of vendors to perform work normally done by Machinists, other key unresolved issues include health care, wages and pensions.

“The Union will continue to look for ways to resolve this strike so that our members can return to building airplanes and making Boeing record profits, but it cannot be at the price of selling out thousands of our members' jobs,” said District 751 President Tom Wroblewski.

Second IAM Member Dies from West Virginia Explosion

After a courageous and prolonged struggle, a second member of Local 656, in Nitro, West Virginia, succumbed to injuries suffered in the August explosion at the Bayer CropScience factory in Institute, West Virginia.

Thirty-year IAM member Bill Oxley died Oct.10 at a burn center in Pittsburgh, PA. Oxley served fellow members as a Shop Steward and on the local negotiating committee. Fellow Local 656 member Barry Withrow died in the August 28 explosion that sent a fireball hundreds of feet in the air and shattered windows far from the plant.

The IAM is taking part in an investigation into the cause of the blast. The investigation also includes state, federal and local officials.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these members during this very difficult time,” said Eastern Territory GVP Lynn Tucker, Jr. “Workers should never lose their lives on the job. We should go to work with the knowledge that we will return home to our loved ones.”

The fatal explosion in West Virginia came one month after a storage tank explosion at a paper mill in northern Wisconsin killed two IAM members. More than 6,000 U.S. workers are killed each year from workplace accidents while thousands more die from occupational diseases.

Annual Guide Dogs Banquet Set for November 22

The Twenty-Eighth Annual William W. Winpisinger Charity Banquet to benefit Guide Dogs of America will be held on November 22, 2008, at Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. The yearly event is the premier fundraiser for Guide Dogs of America, a charitable organization whose mission is to provide guide dogs to visually impaired individuals free of charge.

Guide Dogs of America (GDA) was founded by an IAM member in 1948. GDA and the Machinists union have been strong partners ever since. This year’s fundraising activities include a “Hawgs for Dawgs” Harley-Davidson motorcycle ride on Thursday, November 20th, a charity golf tournament on Friday, November 21st and the banquet on Saturday, November 22, 2008. Go to www.GuideDogsofAmerica.org and click on the “Events Calendar” link for more information.

The cut-off date for discounted Bally’s room reservations is October 24, 2008. To reserve your room, call 1-800-634-3434. The event code for the discounted rate is SBDOG8.

Canada Member Makes Sense of Elections, Politics

Local 1681 member Ryan Wick returned home to Edmonton, Alberta, after a week of classes at the William W. Winpisinger Center, with a renewed appreciation of the value of collective bargaining and keen understanding of how politics and elections impact pay, benefits and working conditions.

In an open letter to IAM members, Wick makes note of the negative campaign tactics that are now common throughout North America and advises fellow members to look beyond smear campaigns, wedge issues and traditional stereotypes.

“I am not saying these issues can't matter to people but if I have to weigh the option between a same sex couple getting married or having Canadian jobs outsourced to other countries, I know where my priority is,” says Wick, who admitted his vote in the past was often based on how friends voted. “I have since realized that wasn't the best judgment.”

The astute Wick also urges members to weigh candidates on the basis of their record of support for labor issues, which are available for Canada politicians and for U.S. politicians.

California VA Nurses Win Six-Figure Settlement

Thirty-nine members of NFFE-IAM Federal Local 1, who are employed as nurses at the San Francisco Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center, recently received back pay checks of up to $10,000 for underpayments made to them between 2000 and 2006.

The outcome is the result of a settlement reached between the VA and NFFE-IAM Federal Local 1. VA management and the union bargained over the disputed pay for 20 months since the original grievance was filed.

The errors occurred when nurses working weekend shifts were not fully compensated with premium pay rate for the hours they worked. Nurses at the San Francisco VA earn an additional 25 percent on top of their normal rate for weekend shifts.

“We are so happy to reach this settlement for our nurses,” said Patricia La Sala, President of NFFE-IAM Federal Local 1. “They earned this money. It is only fair that they get paid for it.”

Successful labor-management relations are a hallmark of the San Francisco VA facility. In 2007, the San Francisco VA and NFFE Local 1 received the Department of Veteran Affairs Award for Labor Management Relations.

“This is a great example of labor-management relations working at its best,” said La Sala. “This is going to be great for the morale of the workers at the San Francisco VA.”

Past iMail | Your Email |www.goiam.org | Print Version

Machinists News Network @ YouTube

Launch Video Player

You Tube For You!
We Can't Make It Here Anymore - by James McMurtry

2008 IAM Newsletter & Website Contest Awards
Newsletter Award entries are judged on Layout & Design, Best Feature and General Excellence. Local lodges and Districts are judged separately.

The goal of the USA is to create an outdoor hunting and fishing club exclusively for union members and their families. TRCP Launches Union Sportsmen’s Alliance

IAM members can now purchase union gear online at the IAM Store.

IAM Journal
Summer 2008

What kind of union do we want to be? That's the question delegates at the upcoming Grand Lodge Convention in Orlando, FL, will have to answer when the discussion turns to the IAM's 32-year-old dues structure.

The 2008 Convention website is online. The site features updates, travel tips, convention news reports, info for the media, and official convention gear. Check it out.

IAM Member Benefits mean money-saving discounts for IAM members and their families.

Your union source for Sharp® and Océ® copiers, high-speed duplicating and archiving equipment, fax machines and Hasler® postage equipment, along with over 35,000 items you can order online.

Click above image for flyer
Enter member ID PS16626766 when ordering online or call 1-877-289-9437. When ordering, you must reference code: PS16626766 to receive your union discount.

See who works for you, how the IAM is structured, and what services the IAM offers.
Go to: IAM2007

Read the International Metalworkers' Federation magazine 'Metal World'

FlatRateTech is an organization “created for and by Ford and Lincoln Mercury service technicians solely to speak as one loud voice rather than 50,000 smaller voices.” according to their website The fast-growing site offers forums for Ford customers, technicians and dealers to exchange information.

IAM
Executive Council

Tom Buffenbarger
International President

Warren L. Mart
Secretary-Treasurer

Lee Pearson
GVP Western Territory

Dave Ritchie
GVP Canada

Robert Roach,Jr.
GVP Transportation

Lynn Tucker
GVP Eastern Territory

Robert Martinez
GVP Southern Territory

Richard Michalski
GVP Headquarters

Philip J. Gruber
GVP Midwest Territory